AstaReal Technologies, Inc. opened its new production facility in Moses Lake, Washington. The new 59,000 sq. ft. factory will produce natural astaxanthin, an antioxidant supplement that helps fight signs of aging and supports joint and skeletal health. It is expected to begin production by this July, initially employing approximately 45 people.

The company said it has been producing natural astaxanthin in Gustavsberg, Sweden, and decided to build an additional factory in response to increased global demand. The new factory will have more than double the production capacity of the existing Swedish facility and will more than triple the AstaReal Groups' total production capacity.

“The increased capacity will allow AstaReal to offer a stable supply of natural astaxanthin to its customers in the United States and around the world. The factory site in Moses Lake has ample space for further expansion,” according to company officials. “The City of Moses Lake in Grant County was chosen after a global search and is a perfect match for AstaReal Technologies' new factory. Moses Lake offers a stable supply of pure water and renewable electrical energy, two resources that are critical to the success of the new facility.”

"AstaReal is honored to be a community member of Moses Lake, Grant County and Washington State, and expects the community will experience significant growth and development which it hopes to contribute to," said Mitsunori Nishida, President/CEO of Fuji Chemical Industry.

Company officials explained, “research shows that astaxanthin may be effective in helping to maintain cardiovascular health as well as supporting the body in its fight against metabolic syndrome conditions. The number of studies exploring astaxanthin's potential benefits has greatly increased during the last decade, to include research areas such as eye health, hypertension, diabetes, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

"We see the 21st century as the era of anti-aging," said Nishida. "We believe that natural astaxanthin will play a key role in the advancement of anti-aging and lifestyle disease research."

AstaReal Technologies' parent company Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. was established in 1946, and is a global pharmaceutical company focusing on three main business areas including; the production and sales of high performance pharmaceutical products, synthesis and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and bulk products, and the production and sales of nutraceuticals.